The invention provides an imaging module that can reliably perform probing, and an electronic apparatus including the imaging module. An imaging module includes a lens unit, and an imaging element unit that is fixed to the lens unit. The lens unit includes a focus drive unit, first and second image blur-correction drive units, a housing, a first connecting portion that is electrically connected to the imaging element unit, a first wiring portion that electrically connects the respective drive units to the first connecting portion, second connecting portions that are disposed outside the housing, a second wiring portion that is electrically connected to the second connecting portions and is electrically connected to the respective drive units to which the first wiring portion is connected, and a wiring board that includes at least a part of the second wiring portion and the plurality of second connecting portions.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An imaging module comprising: a lens unit that has a lens group; and an imaging element unit that has an imaging element and is fixed to the lens unit, wherein the lens unit includes a focus drive unit that drives at least a part of a plurality of lenses of the lens group, a first image blur-correction drive unit that drives at least a part of the plurality of lenses of the lens group in a first direction present in a plane perpendicular to a direction of an optical axis of the lens group, a second image blur-correction drive unit that drives at least a part of the plurality of lenses of the lens group in a second direction crossing the first direction present in the plane perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis of the lens group, a housing that houses the focus drive unit and the first and second image blur-correction drive units therein, a first connecting portion that is electrically connected to the imaging element unit, a first wiring portion that electrically connects the focus drive unit and the first and second image blur-correction drive units to the first connecting portion, a plurality of second connecting portions that are disposed outside the housing, a second wiring portion that is electrically connected to the plurality of second connecting portions and is electrically connected to the focus drive unit and the first and second image blur-correction drive units to which the first wiring portion is connected, and a wiring board that includes at least a part of the second wiring portion, and the plurality of second connecting portions, wherein the wiring board includes a flexible printed circuit and a terminal pattern region on which the second connecting portions are formed, and the terminal pattern region is fixed to an outer surface of the housing.
The imaging module includes a lens unit and an imaging element unit fixed together. The lens unit has a focus drive to move lenses for focusing, and two image blur-correction drives that move lenses in perpendicular directions to stabilize the image. All drives are inside a housing. A first connector electrically connects the lens unit to the imaging element unit. Wires connect the drives to the first connector. Multiple second connectors are outside the housing. A second wiring connects the drives to the second connectors. A wiring board (flexible printed circuit with a terminal pattern region) carries the second wiring and provides the second connectors, which are fixed to the housing's outer surface.
2. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the first wiring portion further includes wires that electrically connect sensors for detecting the displacement of the lenses to the first connecting portion, and the second wiring portion includes wires that are electrically connected to the sensors to which the first connecting portion is connected.
The imaging module as described includes displacement sensors for detecting lens movement. The first wiring connects these sensors to the first connector and the second wiring connects these sensors to the second connectors. Therefore, both the image sensor and the lens displacement sensors are connected to the external device via the first and second connector.
3. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the wiring board has a region that is disposed outside the housing.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, has a wiring board that extends outside the housing.
4. The imaging module according to claim 2 , wherein the wiring board has a region that is disposed outside the housing.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring that also connects displacement sensors, second connectors, second wiring that also connects displacement sensors, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, has a wiring board that extends outside the housing.
5. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the second connecting portions are coated with an insulating material.
The imaging module as described, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, features second connectors that are coated with an insulating material to prevent shorts.
6. The imaging module according to claim 2 , wherein the second connecting portions are coated with an insulating material.
The imaging module, which includes a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring that also connects lens displacement sensors, second connectors, second wiring that also connects the lens displacement sensors, and a wiring board with the second wiring and second connectors, features second connectors that are coated with an insulating material.
7. The imaging module according to claim 3 , wherein the second connecting portions are coated with an insulating material.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, a wiring board with the second wiring and second connectors that extends outside the housing, has second connectors that are coated with an insulating material.
8. The imaging module according to claim 1 , further comprising: a cover member that covers the outside of the second connecting portions.
The imaging module includes a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors. A cover protects the external second connectors from damage.
9. The imaging module according to claim 2 , further comprising: a cover member that covers the outside of the second connecting portions.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring that also connects displacement sensors, second connectors, second wiring that also connects the lens displacement sensors, and a wiring board with the second wiring and second connectors, includes a cover that protects the second connectors.
10. The imaging module according to claim 3 , further comprising: a cover member that covers the outside of the second connecting portions.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board with the second wiring and second connectors that extends outside the housing, includes a cover that protects the second connectors.
11. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal pattern region is fixed to a plurality of outer surfaces of the housing.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including a flexible printed circuit and a terminal pattern region on which the second connectors are formed, features the terminal pattern region fixed to multiple outer surfaces of the housing, providing additional stability.
12. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal pattern region is attached to an outer surface of the housing.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including a flexible printed circuit and a terminal pattern region on which the second connectors are formed, features the terminal pattern region that is attached to the outer surface of the housing.
13. The imaging module according to claim 1 , further comprising: a reinforcing member that is disposed on a back side of an exposed surface of the wiring board, to which the second connecting portions are exposed, so as to be integrated with the wiring board.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, includes a reinforcing member on the back of the wiring board where the second connectors are located, making the wiring board stronger.
14. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of a wall of the housing, which has the outer surface to which the second connecting portions are fixed, is thicker than a thickness of a wall of the housing that has an outer surface to which the second connecting portions are not fixed.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, features a housing wall that is thicker where the second connectors are attached than elsewhere, providing more secure mounting.
15. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the wiring board includes at least a part of the first wiring portion, and the second wiring portion is used as at least a part of the first wiring portion.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, uses the wiring board for at least part of the first wiring that connects to the image sensor and uses the second wiring also for at least a part of the first wiring.
16. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the wiring board includes at least a part of the first wiring portion, and the second wiring portion includes a portion branched from the first wiring portion.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, uses the wiring board for at least a part of the first wiring, with the second wiring branching off from the first wiring.
17. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second connecting portions are disposed on a side surface of the housing so as to be arranged in multiple rows in a direction of a long side of the side surface.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, arranges the second connectors on the side of the housing in multiple rows along its long side.
18. The imaging module according to claim 17 , wherein when A denotes a length of a long side of the surface on which the plurality of second connecting portions are disposed, B denotes a length of a short side of the surface on which the plurality of second connecting portions are disposed, C denotes a length of one side of a rectangular region in which one of the second connecting portions is disposed, D denotes a length of a side, which is connected to the side of C, of the rectangular region in which one of the second connecting portions is disposed, N denotes the number of the plurality of second connecting portions, and M denotes the number of the rows of the plurality of second connecting portions, the second connecting portions are disposed so that C/D is in the range of 0.4 to 2.8 in a case in which “C=A/(N/M)” and “D=B/M” are satisfied.
The imaging module, which arranges second connectors in multiple rows on a side of the housing, defines specific dimensions for the arrangement. 'A' is the length of the side, 'B' is the width, 'C' is the length of one side of a connector's rectangular region, 'D' is the other side of that region, 'N' is the number of connectors, and 'M' is the number of rows. The connectors are arranged so that C/D is between 0.4 and 2.8, where C = A/(N/M) and D = B/M. This specifies the relative proportions of the connectors and their spacing.
19. The imaging module according to claim 1 , wherein a pixel pitch of the imaging element is 1 μm or less.
The imaging module, which has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors, has an image sensor with a pixel pitch of 1 μm or less, indicating high resolution.
20. An electronic apparatus including the imaging module according to claim 1 .
An electronic apparatus, like a smartphone or camera, includes the imaging module that has a lens unit, an image sensor unit, a focus drive, two image blur-correction drives, a housing, a first connector to the image sensor, first wiring, second connectors, second wiring, and a wiring board including the second wiring and second connectors.
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January 20, 2016
July 4, 2017
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